Colston Loveland Scouting Report for Chicago Bears first-round pick “mismatch option”

The Chicago Bears added a weapon to quarterback Caleb Williams’ arsenal, and a potentially dynamic piece of the puzzle in head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme, selecting former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Loveland, 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, was one of the focal points of the Wolverines’ passing game while hauling in 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Given Johnson’s track record of turning Sam LaPorta into an All-Pro caliber pass-catcher in Detroit, Loveland walks into a situation where he has the chance to not just thrive in two-tight end sets along with Cole Kmet but climb Williams’ target hierarchy as a potent weapon.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland NFL Draft scouting report

Along with Tyler Warren, Loveland was viewed as one of the top prizes of a very strong tight end class, and it’s easy to see why.

“Talented young tight end with the athletic ability,” Lance Zierlein writes for NFL Media. “And ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels. He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option. His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching. He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands.”

Pro Football Focus points out that Loveland posted an elite 90.6 receiving grade, which, thanks to his reliable hands, likely pushed him up the Bears’ board in efforts to help Williams. Likewise, he has the traits of a field-stretcher that should complement receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze well.

“Loveland can operate as a traditional in-line and/or the pass-catching move tight end,” according to the Bleacher Report Scouting Department. “In both the run and passing games. That versatility will help him NFL offensive coordinators create a game plan for him within the offense. Loveland succeeds in running routes from multiple alignments and will put defenses in a bind, determining what type of defender should handle him as their assignment. Linebackers and nickel corners are too small to combat with him at the catch point, while outside cornerbacks covering creates a mismatch elsewhere.”